This is the one to read for pleasure, unless you are an upper-level or grad history student. The good stuff left in, the superfluous taken out, a great editing job. Still a BIG book but you can open it anywhere and be fascinated. I keep it in the BR, this is another one I would take on vacation or pick up when I have run out of library books. ( )

http://www.pepysdiary.com/ ( )